[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the hectic holidays behind us, you may feel like you’ve begun the year on frazzled footing. As dark days continue to reign, why not explore the healing and restorative effects of
Epsom salts?
What is Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt is not salt at all, but a naturally occurring mineral compound made of magnesium, oxygen and sulfur. Discovered in the early 1600s in
Epsom Common near Surry England, the presence of the mineral made spring water turn brackish and animals avoided drinking it. This is what led to its discovery, by a cowherder named Henry Wicker. He noticed that though his cows wouldn’t drink it, after wading in it, their wounds appeared to heal more rapidly. Once word had spread about the healing waters in this little village, it subsequently became one of the first spa resorts in England until the natural springs began to dry up in the 1700s.
But First, Who Should Not Use Epsom Salts?
Before discussing the impressive benefits that Epsom salts provide, it’s important to note that bathing in it should not be done if severe skin infections, open wounds or burns are present. If you’re experiencing flare ups related to eczema, psoriasis or other skin conditions, you should also avoid soaking. Magnesium is processed by the kidneys so those with kidney issues should also take caution when bathing with Epsom Salts. Finally, though it reached its fame through ingestion and the subsequent laxative effects this caused, drinking Epsom Salts is not recommended. There are many other natural ways to relieve
constipation or improve
digestion that are gentler on the bowels as well as the heart and kidneys.
Epsom Salt Bath Benefits
Stress reduction
Bathing in warm water opens pores, allowing the body to absorb the raw materials found in Epsom salts through your skin. The act of taking a bath
in itself can be a wonderful stress reducer but the added benefit of receiving a dose of magnesium makes this activity even more effective.
Why is
magnesium so important for stress management? It turns out that this unassuming mineral is involved in regulating over
300 biological functions in the body including neurological and cardiac activity, muscle movement and bone metabolism. And it just so happens that up to
50% of Americans are magnesium deficient, especially for those whose diets are high in processed grains, sugar and alcohol.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency and stress are remarkably similar, with the most common indications including
fatigue, muscle tension, irritability and mild
anxiety. Most importantly however, is that
recent studies have uncovered a vicious cycle, one where stress increases magnesium loss and low levels of magnesium in the body make it more susceptible to stress. By bathing in magnesium-rich waters, this damaging cycle is disrupted, and your body receives an exceptionally powerful nutrient that can help restore energy levels as well as calm your mind.
Sleep improvement
Speaking of a calm mind, stepping into a warm bath is sure to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which governs a serene and relaxed state of being. The presence of Epsom salts is helpful, again, because of magnesium. It regulates the sleep hormone
melatonin and also binds to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, the neurotransmitter responsible for soothing nerve activity and inducing sleep.
Drugs like Ambien, Xanax and Valium also bind to GABA receptors but only magnesium does so without harmful side effects. Combining the use of Epsom salts and a warm bath before going to bed – ideally at temperatures between 104 to 109°F – has scientifically been proven to improve sleep quality, according to
Sleep Medicine Reviews. As your body needs to cool down in order to sleep, bathing too close to bedtime can backfire so make sure to bath 90 to 120 minutes before hitting the hay.
Better gains in the gym
You’ve heard a lot about magnesium already, but we’re not quite done. Just as stress has been shown to deplete magnesium levels, so does working out, which is, in its own way, a type of short-term stress on the body.
Supplementing with 8 milligrams of magnesium per kilo of body weight per day, however, has been shown to substantially increase endurance and improve oxygen consumption during exercise. Conversely, your heart and lungs work harder when magnesium deficiency is present. This is because magnesium aids in the production of ATP or adenosine triphosphate – the body’s main source of energy.
Studies are mixed on whether or not bathing in Epsom salts directly enhances athletic performance, but submersing oneself in a warm bath after a killer Crossfit session will definitely loosen and relax tight or tender muscles, and any magnesium that is absorbed will help replace what was used during the strenuous activity.
Better moods
Opting for a bath over a shower can reduce tension, irritability and even anxiety and depression according to the latest
studies. By increasing your core body temperature, warm baths help to strengthen and harmonize your circadian rhythms or your internal clock that regulates sleepiness and alertness and is greatly influenced by environmental light changes and other cues to tell the body when to sleep, wake and eat. Your body temperature cycles between increasing during the day only to fall again at night, and this nightly decrease is essential to feeling drowsy and being able to fall asleep. People with depression often have a flatter cycle, disrupted or delayed by several hours. Depression is also thought to be related to low levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, and
research in rats reveals that the mood-regulating region of the brain where serotonin is released is more active in response to increases in body temperature.
How to Use Epsom Salt: 3 Easy Steps
- Fill a bathtub with warm water – between 104 to 109 degrees F is best.
- Add one to two cups of Epsom salt per gallon of water. For maximum dissolution, pour the salt under the waterspout. Soothing Touch’s Unscented Bath Salts in a 32-ounce bag is a perfect choice.
- Soak in the tub for at least 15 minutes.
Soak With Purpose
Try these different soaks which involve adding aromatic or nourishing ingredients that will enhance your experience while also boosting your health!
Immunity soak
Studies show that soaking for 20 to 30 minutes in a warm bath raises your core body temperature, which increases your white blood cell production, strengthening your body's ability to fight off bacteria and infections. This is also why your body often becomes feverish when you’re sick.
As cold and flu season emerges, try adding
eucalyptus or
rosemary essential oils to your hot bath, both of which are high in a compound called
cineole, which is antimicrobial and has been shown to reduce inflammation particularly in your respiratory pathways, allowing you to take those much needed cleansing deep breaths.
Sensual soak
Undressing and slipping into a hot bathing is already a very sensuous experience – why not heighten the pleasure it produces by lighting
candles and filling your tub with aphrodisiacs like
rose petals,
damiana leaves or
sandalwood and
patchouli essential oils? Sandalwood elevates the pulse and patchouli prompts the production of sex hormones while damiana stimulates the sexual organs. Compliment the experience by playing some of your favorite romantic songs in the background and you’ll be in the mood for love.
Radiant skin soak
Turn your bathtub into a spa experience by incorporating skin friendly ingredients like clay, cream or apple cider vinegar into your bathing experience.
Red Moroccan clay will shrink pores, while heavy cream or milk contains lactic acid which will gently exfoliate.
Apple cider vinegar may have a sharp aroma, but its low pH can help balance your own skin’s pH, helping to ease issues like sunburn, mild acne or dandruff. If your skin is feeling dry, consider honey or skin friendly oils like
sweet almond or
jojoba, which will moisturize and soften your skin as you relax. Add
lavender essential oil to reduce inflammation or
clary sage to control acne and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Detox soak
Not only is it relaxing and rejuvenating, soaking in warm water is also detoxifying. The warm temperatures, like those in a sauna, increase lymphatic drainage, improve circulation and reduce inflammation while the heat burns calories. Like the liver or colon, skin also promotes detoxification and is the main organ involved when enjoying a hot bath or sauna. With the addition of Epsom salts, the sulfates present soften the skin while also detoxing the body, though there are few scientific studies as of yet to back these claims.
To increase the detoxifying qualities of a warm soak, stay hydrated with plenty of filtered water on hand, soak in the bath for at least 20 minutes, add
bentonite clay or aluminum free
baking soda – both of which can draw out heavy metals – or add colloidal oatmeal such as one of
Aveeno’s Soothing Bath Treatment Packets for a moisturizing and yet gently cleansing detox.
Let these various bath soaks remind you of what is truly important this time of year – a strong immune system, healthy mood, balanced sexual drive, radiant skin and a supple, well-nourished body. Remember to always perform a patch skin test first with any essential oils, vinegars or clays to make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions before adding them to your soak. Otherwise, enjoy the luxury that is bathing and may you emerge afterwards a brighter, cleaner, healthier you thanks to Epsom salts![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="181918" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1738363671584{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/white-egret-epsom-salt-unscented-16-oz"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="181916" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1738363684194{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/oilogic-baby-stuffy-nose-cough-essential-oil-epsom-salt-soak"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="181915" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1738363695063{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/dr-teals-lavender-chamomile-epsom-salt-melatonin-sleep-soak"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
