Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salt is popularly known by its chemical name: Magnesium Sulfate. The name "Epsom" carries a historic reason behind the naming of this salt. It was, for the first of all times, distilled from water in a town called Epsom (in England). The chemical formula for Epsom salt is written as MgSO₄-7H₂O. This salt is easily available at any drug store. Epsom salt baths benefits are many, with its most prominent use in therapeutic baths.

Beneficial Effects of Epsom Salt Baths

Pain and Stress Reliever
Along with iron and calcium, magnesium is also an important requirement for our body. Iron and calcium are consumed internally on a daily basis as they happen to be a part of our daily diet. However, magnesium is taken in little quantities. For absorption of this mineral externally, one can prepare a bath with 1 cup of Epsom salt + 1 cup of baking soda. This mineral detoxifies the skin and relieves the body off joint pain and muscle cramps. Due to its antiseptic properties, Epsom salt used in baths, can effectively heal many skin ailments like carbuncles, boils and acne. Apart from pain relief, Epsom salts are great stress relievers and mood enhancers too, as magnesium helps in binding adequate amounts of serotonin levels in brain (serotonin is a chemical responsible for mood elevations of a person). People suffering from high blood pressure must avail the Epsom salt health benefits for sure, as this helps in regulation of blood pressure within the body.

Enhances Body Functions
Benefits of Epsom salt baths include enhancing the body functions like transmission of electrical impulses, removing toxins from the body and muscle control. Besides, this bath also aids in prevention of thickening of arteries and reducing irregular heartbeats. Epsom salt baths heighten the electrolytic regulation, thereby enhancing the functioning of the nervous system. This is because, magnesium plays a major role in maintaining the movement of calcium ions, which happen to be conductors of electrolytic current inside the body.The absorption of nutrients is enhanced and formation of brain tissue, mucin proteins and joint proteins is improved to a great extent due to Epsom salt. People with digestive problems (like constipation) have also found these baths effective in clearing the digestive track (as Epsom salt is a natural laxative). Diabetic patients are quite benefited by these therapeutic baths as the salt aids in increasing the effectiveness of insulin secretion.

Beauty Therapies
Epsom Salt is a well-known detoxifier. It is also widely used on the cosmetic front. Epsom salt bath is many times, a part of beauty packages and therapeutic massage therapies. One of the benefits of Epsom salt on skin is softening the skin by removing excess fluid and toxins stored in the body. Besides, this mineral salt when mixed with other essential oils (like lavender) makes a perfect bath salt and a body scrub during bath. Shampooing hair with Epsom salt mixed with shampoo (9 tablespoons of Epsom salt + ½ cup shampoo) and followed by rinsing hair with apple cider vinegar is sure to add a good volume to your shiny thick hair.

Healing and Curing Ailments
Benefits of Epsom salt soaks are greatly availed by old people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease and other chemical insensitivities. Other benefits include healing autism and other neurological anomalies.This is because, children suffering from autism have very low sulfate levels in their body (Weak detoxification paths are formed if there are not adequate sulfate ions within the body). In such circumstances phenol sulfur-transferase sulfation path does not get completed. This is also a reason as to why, autistic children and people suffering from the above ailments, fail to handle environmental chemicals and medications. Epsom salts calm the nerves down and stimulate the nervous system by strengthening the detoxification path within the body.

It is easy to get, easy to use and is quite an economical means of keeping the body fit as a fiddle! Pregnant women, who may experience backache and leg pain can relieve themselves off the pain by taking Epsom salt bath soaks. You can prepare an effective bath salt using Epsom salt at home and enjoy its goodness! Good luck!!