Athletes commonly use it for sore muscles , and gardeners can sprinkle it on plants to increase their growth. This is Epsom salt and, naturally. Epsom salt has a long-standing history of diversified use and advantages for health, beauty, household cleaning and outdoor gardening.
Epsom salt works as a natural exfoliant and anti-inflammatory solution that can be utilized to treat muscle pain or dry skin and can also combat internal health issues. Simply add Epsom salts to the next foot soak or bath for a luxurious, soothing spa experience at home. Unlike other salts, external contact with Epsom salt won’t cause dry skin. Actually, it leaves the skin feeling luxurious and smooth.
Another great benefit of this salt is the magnesium content. According to a recent scientific review, you can have a magnesium deficiency even the levels of magnesium in your blood are normal. In addition, it’s been discovered that the majority of people need an additional 300 milligrams of magnesium per day in order to lower the risk of developing a variety of chronic diseases.
This is only one of many reasons you should add this salt to your routine.
What Is Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt is named from a bitter saline spring situated at Epsom located in Surrey, England, where the salt was first extracted from water. It’s different from traditional salts because it’s actually an organic compound made of magnesium and Sulfate. It was initially made from mineral water, but nowadays it’s mostly obtained through mining operations.
Chemical formula of magnesium sulfate is MgSO4. That means it can actually be broken into sulfate and magnesium, which is a combination of sulfur and oxygen. The salt consists of small, colorless crystals and looks similar to table salt. However, table salt is totally different from Epsom salt due to its composition in sodium chloride.
How does Epsom salt function? It’s made up of magnesium, a mineral essential to the human body’s performance. Some of the most important functions of magnesium include keeping blood pressure within a healthy range, keeping the heart rhythms steady, and strong bones. The other major ingredient, sulfate, is a vital mineral that is essential to many biological processes. It assists in flushing toxins, detoxify the liver and aid in the production of proteins in the brain and joints.
Health Benefits
1. Enhances Magnesium Levels
Appropriate levels of magnesium are absolutely key to healthy living, however it is extremely common to be deficient in magnesium. Alcoholism, severe diarrhea, malnutrition or high amounts of calcium (hypercalcemia) can all contribute to hypomagnesemia or low levels magnesium. Just by infusing your feet or your entire body in a bath containing Epsom salts, it is possible to raise magnesium levels naturally , without the need for magnesium supplements.
Magnesium regulates more than 300 enzymes in the body and plays a crucial part in the coordination of many bodily functions. The essential functions of magnesium include the control of muscle, energy production, electrical impulses and elimination of harmful toxins.
Magnesium deficiencies can be linked to many chronic illnesses that include Alzheimer’s disease high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease along with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). By boosting your internal magnesium levels by taking external application or Epsom salt, you will help improve or ward off many avoidable health ailments.
2. Reduces Stress
Is soaking in Epsom salt good for you? Everyone has heard of the suggestion to take the pleasure of soaking in a warm bath following an extremely stressful day. If you’re struggling mentally, physically and/or both, having a hot (again and not too hot) bath is such an effective way to ease stress. If you want to amplify the relaxation benefits of a nice, long soak make sure to add a teaspoon or two of Epsom salt in your bathwater. The magnesium will not only help relax your muscles, but it can also help calm your mind.
According to research conducted by research conducted by the University of North Carolina, hypomagnesemia increases stress reaction. Further studies show that magnesium exerts a powerful impact on stress and excitability. Magnesium saltslike Epsom salt, have the ability to lower stress and improve neuropsychiatric disorders.
Magnesium is crucial to the production of energy in cells. When you increase magnesium levels and feeling rejuvenated, you’ll feel more energetic and relaxed, without being agitated. It’s more calm vitality, in contrast to how people feel revived by caffeine consumption.
3. Eliminates Toxins
The sulfates present in Epsom salt assist the body in eliminating the toxins. It also helps in removing heavy metal elimination from cells in the body. This helps reduce the level of internal accumulation of harmful substances. Human skin is a highly porous membrane. By adding minerals like magnesium and sulfate in your bath water, it starts an process known as reverse osmosis. It takes salt out of your body and harmful toxins along with it.
In a diet and weight loss plan detox baths that contain baking soda and magnesium sulfate are frequently recommended. This doesn’t mean that Epsom salt weight loss is really “a issue,” but since the salt can discourage water retention and encourage elimination (more on that next), it’s not a bad idea to add it to a holistic weight loss approach.
4. Relieves Constipation
Can you drink Epsom salts? Epsom salt is an FDA-approved laxative and commonly used to treat constipation naturally. When consumed internally it acts as a natural laxative by increasing water in the intestines and cleansing the colon of waste. A compilation of studies that were which were reported in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology reveals that there is solid evidence of Epsom salt “has an effective laxative effect in vitro due to the release of digestive hormones and neurotransmitters.”
Internal use of magnesium Sulfate may provide temporary relief from constipation, however, just like other laxatives, Epsom salt for constipation is not intended to serve as a long-term solution or as a substitute for healthy diet high in fiber.
If a laxative is required, it’s best to stay clear of the harmful laxatives in the market today. Why? They’re usually packed with artificial colors and flavors and dangerous chemicals. To take magnesium sulfate orally the usual recommendation is to dissolve one dosage in eight 8 ounces of water. Stir the mixture, and drink the entire mixture immediately. It is possible to add a small quantity of juice from a lemon to enhance the flavor.
Take plenty of fluids after drinking or taking an Epsom salt laxative in order to prevent dehydration. Magnesium sulfate ingested orally can result in a bowel movement within 30 minutes to 6 hours.
5. Reduces Pain and Inflammation
A warm bath that is infused with Epsom salt is known to help ease pain and alleviate inflammation. This makes it a good natural treatment sore muscles, migraines (including migraines) and arthritis pain.
Bathing in warm water is one of the oldest forms of alternative therapy for arthritis. If you include Epsom salt the bath will become much more relaxing. As per the Arthritis Foundation:
Information gathered at scientists at National Academy of Sciences show that the majority of Americans don’t get enough magnesium. Magnesium is a vital mineral that’s important for bone and heart health. One option to combat thatis bathing in … Epsom salts. They’re fairly inexpensive and can be found at grocery or drug stores and could boost magnesium levels as much in excess of 35 percent as per researchers from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
Are you suffering from a painful and irritating splinter stuck in your hand? Put the area affected with warm water, and Epsom salt. The splinter should be drawn out of the skin in a flash! Soreness after childbirth? Epsom salt can ease that, too. In general, healthy levels of magnesium derived from Epsom salt can aid in reducing overall bodily inflammation since low magnesium has been linked with higher C-reactive protein, which is a sign of inflammation within the body.
6. Improves Blood Sugar Levels
The development of type 2 diabetes is often caused by extracellular as well as intracellular magnesium deficiency. In addition, high levels of magnesium have been linked to a lower chance in developing type 2 diabetes. As you now know, Epsom salt is an excellent food source for magnesium.
A regular intake of Epsom salts, either in a transdermal or oral route, could help control blood sugar, lowering the risk of diabetes and increasing energy levels throughout the day. Be sure to consult your health care provider before applying any new diabetes treatments.
7. Volumizes Hair
Adding Epsom salts to hair products can help decrease excess oil. Over-use of oil causes hair to be looking thin and heavy. One simple way to create your own volumizing conditioner at home is to mix equal parts of conditioner and salt (example 2 tablespoons conditioner and 2 teaspoons Epsom salts).
After shampooing hair in the same way as you normally do after shampooing as usual, apply the volumizing mix to hair, coating hair from scalp down to the ends. Leave the mix in for 1o to 20 minutes prior to rinsing. This is an excellent routine hair treatment.
8. May Boost Plant Health
Epsom salt is used in gardens widespread and with good reason because it functions as natural fertilizer. Epsom salt is believed to increase the vibrancy of plants. It can also help in allowing them to grow bigger, although some experts remain skeptical. However, many gardeners are fond of the use of Epsom salt to treat tomatoes, roses and peppers Many have found it to increase yields for plants.
A few suggested methods to use epsom salt for plants include:
When you plant roses or vegetables, sprinkle around one tablespoon of Epsom salts in the planting hole.
Combine 1 tablespoon of salt for every gallon of water to spray your foliar area and apply when the plants start to flower and again when young fruits appear.
9. Helps Breathing Problems
Magnesium sulfate also has shown its effectiveness as a natural treatment for bronchial asthma. A scientific review that was published in 2012 reveals that magnesium sulfur “has been considered as an adjunct therapy in acute and life-threatening asthma flare-ups.”
The first use of magnesium in the treatment of asthma was actually reported back in 1936. Studies show magnesium relaxes smooth muscles in the bronchial ducts in a dose-dependent manner. In the present, the administration of magnesium sulfate intravenously is an addition to conventional treatment for severe and acute asthma flare-ups.
10. Helps Prevent Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia may be a hazard pregnancy complication marked in the presence of high blood pressure. Magnesium is one of the ways some doctor and pregnancies use to treat or reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Research has shown it has both in the vivo and in vitro vasodilator qualities.
What exactly is vasodilators? It’s an ingredient that aids in the widening of blood vessels and increase blood flow. Magnesium sulfate is particularly well-known for its role in the treatment of severe cases preeclampsia to prevent the progression to eclampsia, which is when seizures begin to occur in women with preeclampsia.
Uses
1. Epsom Salt Bath Recipe
Undoubtedly, among the many popular Epsom salt uses is its inclusion in baths. Mixing Epsom salt, baking soda, and lavender oils provides a simple, easy bath recipe that can help you relax, release muscle tension and heal all over, both physically and mentally. Look over the Homemade Healing Bath Salts recipe.
The recommended amount of Epsom salt for bath water will vary. For an Epsom salts cleanse bath, add at least two cup of Epsom salt to your bath and then soak for about 40 minutes in total. The first 20 mins give your body the chance to eliminate toxins from your system, and the final 20 minutes are for you to take in the minerals that are in the water. They will allow you to leave the bath feeling rejuvenated. Make sure you drink water prior to, during and after your bath to shield yourself from dehydration , and boost elimination.
Epsom salt is a crucial ingredient in many recipes for detoxifying baths. You can use it as a separate salt to soak in or mix it in with dried plant extracts and essential oils to create an indulgence in bathing.
2. Epsom Salt Foot Soak
If you haven’t tried the DIY foot bath or detox foot bath, you’re probably due to experience what Epsom salts can accomplish for your feet. The inclusion of Epsom salts in a foot bath can increase magnesium levels and offer relief for tiredand sore feet.
In addition, Epsom salt can help infections. The process of bathing an infected foot, or another part of the body in magnesium sulfate-based water may help to draw out the toxins and encourage healing of the infected tissue.
3. Bone and Joint Pain Relief
In the form of a compress or bath, Epsom salt may offer some relief from how uncomfortable you are feeling. Try soaking in a relaxing bath that is infused with Epsom salt it is a well-known home remedy for joint and bone pain.
4. Heel Spur Aid
As magnesium is a key component of the health of bones, Epsom salt can be a great holistic remedy for an injury to the heel. A displacement of calcium on the bone can cause a heel spur to form on the underside of your heel. The heel spur can be moderately to extremely painful. A natural remedy for healing the heel spur is to soak your feet in a warm (but not too hot) tub with Epsom salt. This helps ease pain and inflammation.
Dangers as well as Side Effects
Do not take a dose higher of Epsom salt that the package label recommends or the doctor’s instructions. Magnesium sulfate that is taken orally may make it difficult to your body’s ability to absorb other medications that you take orally specifically antibiotics. Do not take other medications within two hours before or after taking magnesium sulfate to relieve laxative.
If you have rectal bleeding or do not get bowel movements after using magnesium sulfate as laxative, stop taking the medication and call your doctor at once. These could be indications of a serious illness.
Magnesium, in any form and forms, including Epsom salt, must be avoided in those suffering from renal failure, since it is processed by the kidneys, and can cause dangerous levels in these patients. Magnesium sulfate can be employed to treat preeclampsia and eclampsia in pregnant women. However, women who are nursing or pregnant should generally exercise caution and consult their doctors before making use of it.
Common side effects of excessive intake include mild gastrointestinal upset that can cause nausea, abdominal cramps and/or diarrhea. The most serious side effects associated with magnesium sulfate excess include allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, breathing difficulties, chest tightness, or swelling of the face, mouth, lips or tongue), dizziness, flushing as well as inability to breathe, irregular heartbeats muscles paralysis or fatigue, severe drowsiness and sweating. It is important to inform your physician immediately if experiencing any of these signs after taking Epsom salt. Serious side effects of Epsom salt are very rare when it is used in the recommended dosages.
Always consult your doctor if you have any questions, nursing, pregnant, treated for a medical issue or currently taking medication you should consult your doctor prior to use of any external or internal medication.
Final Thoughts
Epsom salt also known as magnesium Sulfate, has a lengthy time of usage as a natural remedy for a array of health issues.
The benefits of this product are believed to include a boost in magnesium and stress reduction, as well as toxin elimination as well as pain relief and blood sugar reduction.
It is also a natural remedy by arthritis experts to alleviate joint pain and inflammation.
It’s also used to treat breathing problems such as asthma, and to help women treat or prevent preeclampsia or eclampsia.
It is typically taken internally for constipation relief. Although it is a better option than most laxatives that are commonly used however, it isn’t intended to be a permanent solution.
Epsom salts are used as a house or garden plants as a natural fertilizer to boost the growth and health of your plants.
Try a salt bath (bath or simply feet) after a tiring day. Don’t be surprised if you feel better relaxed after you’re done.
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