How can Epsom salt baths help me?

Do you ever wonder if epsom salt baths really can help you feel better? When our clients complain of sore, aching muscles, we highly recommend a long soak in a warm tub with 2 cups of Epsom salts (not recommended for use in a tub with jets).  Many holistic care practitioners will tell you it is not only great for sore muscles, but also for detoxing the body. It is something you can safely do every 3 days.  Think of what a warming treat this can be during the cooler winter weather.

What is Epsom salt?

It is a naturally occurring miner salt originally discovered about 400 years ago in “Epsom”, a town in England.  It is compound made of magnesium and sulfur (nothing like table salt so do not try to taste it!).  Epsom salt can be purchase in large size bags at most chain grocery stores and pharmacies.  It is a white in color and looks like an extremely course version of regular table salt.

Why do you need it?

Minerals play an extremely important role in the functioning of the human skeleton, soft (muscle) tissues and for helping regulatory functions such as electrical impulses, energy production, blood clotting, oxygen transport, and enzymatic activity. Magnesium, calcium and phosphorus, are needed in large amounts and known as “macro-minerals”.  It has been said that magnesium is the second most abundant element in human cells.  According to WebMD, magnesium is crucial to the body’s function. Magnesium helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady. According to CARE2, sulfates play an important role in the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. They stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help detoxify of medicines and environmental contaminates.

Most sources agree that there is a there is a widespread magnesium deficiency. Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil and the typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. And in fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up the depletion of magnesium from our bodies.

How your body can absorb more magnesium

So why isn’t there a magnesium supplement craze? Studies show that magnesium is not easily absorbed through the digestive tract. The presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions, and the chemistry of a person’s stomach acid can render magnesium supplements ineffective. However, studies do show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt absorbed by the skin. If this is true, we’d all benefit from soaking in a tub at least three times per week with two cups of Epsom Salt for at least 12 minutes. (If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, please check with your doctor before using Epsom salts.)

Taking your Epsom salt bath one step further

Add several drops of beautiful, aromatic essential oils.  For relaxation we recommend lavender, or, for a balancing mood booster – geranium.  A soft candle flame can help to further to calm and relax at the end of a hectic day.  Lastly, to really transport yourself into a zen state of mind, play a spa music track from youtube and allow yourself to drift away.  You deserve it!

Some of the many state benefits of magnesium include:

For Your Health:

– Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
– Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
– Flushed toxins and heavy metals from cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
– Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
– Relived stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well-being and relaxation.
– Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
– Improved oxygen use.
– Enhance absorption of nutrients.
– Helps formation of joint proteins, brain tissue
– Prevention or easing of migraine headaches
– Soothes sprains and bruises
– Relieves symptoms of athlete’s foot
– Removal of splinters
– Treats toenail fungus

For Your Beauty:

– Exfoliate dead skin for the body
– Exfoliating face cleanser
– Dislodge blackheads
– Remove foot odor
– Removes hairspray
– Hair volumizer
– Itchy skin or bug bite relief
– Minor sunburn relief

For Household and Gardening:

– Clean bathroom tile and grout
– Insecticide spray for lawn and garden
– Prevents slugs
– Maintaining a green lawn
– Fertilize household plants
– Soil prep before planting garden
– Beautify roses and for faster growth

Who would have thought that a relaxing bath could possibly have all these health benefits? Not to mention all the other uses for Epsom Salt? If you would like to know the “recipes” for the above benefits, check out Wellness Mama or for more scientific information NIH.