How Epsom Salt Baths Can Help You

Perhaps you’ve pulled a muscle at the gym or perhaps your arthritis is acting up. Besides waiting it out, is there anything you can do?

An age-old method used for hundreds of years may offer you a solution. Epsom salt baths have been around for a while, and a simple soak in one may help you feel better.

Epsom salt isn’t the kind of salt that you sprinkle on your food. It’s a type of salt that gets its name from a place in England where it’s been found in natural springs. Nowadays, it’s found everywhere from local grocers to natural food stores. Buying a box of the stuff will only cost you a few dollars.

Epsom salt is different from the kind of bath crystals that are often laced with oils, colors, and perfumes. Essentially, Epsom salt is mainly comprised of magnesium and sulfate. When you soak in an Epsom salt bath, these components become absorbed into your skin.

Here are some of the uses that Epsom salt can be used as a treatment for:

  • Bruises and sprains
  • Insomnia
  • Psoriasis
  • Soreness from diarrhea during chemotherapy
  • Tired, swollen feet
  • Arthritis pain and swelling
  • Sunburn pain and redness
  • Ingrown toenails
  • Fibromyalgia

You should seek out your physician about recommendations and to avoid any adverse reactions.

How to take an Epsom Salt bath

The water should be comfortably warm, not hot, to avoid overly drying your skin. Add Epsom salt under running water to help it to dissolve. For a standard-sized tub, usually use one to two cups or the amount as recommended by your doctor. Sit in the bath for around 40 minutes in order to give enough time for your body to absorb the minerals and to eject the toxins. Now relax.