Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

In this article I would like to discuss the benefits of including Epsom Salt baths in your life and how they can help with a range of health issues.

What are the benefits of Epsom Salt baths?

Many people I see in clinic benefit from regular Epsom Salt baths. Frequently I see people suffering from common signs of magnesium deficiency including:

• Muscle cramps, especially calves and feet
• Uncontrollable eye twitching or muscle spasms
• Poor Sleep
• Constipation
• Restless legs
• Poor blood sugar management
• Signs of low progesterone

For many of these people they are also suffering with digestive issues or perhaps a metabolism that is not functioning as it should. When this happens, absorption of magnesium can be affected and even oral supplementation may not correct the issue.

In cases like these I like to use either magnesium creams, oils or one of my favorites are Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate).

Magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin and research conducted by Birmingham University has demonstrated the effectiveness of Epsom salts in raising blood levels of magnesium.

Research by Dr RH Waring found that adding around 1g of Epsom salts per 100ml of warm water was able to raise blood levels of magnesium. On average that is around 500-600g per bath or in a foot soak around 100-200g can be of benefit. Most people achieved maximal benefit though at around the 500-600g mark per bath and by repeating that 2-3 times per week.

Special Considerations

If you have a high volume of exercise and / or stress, then making Epsom salts part of your evening routine 2-4 times per week may be of benefit to you.

In some highly stressed people they may benefit from sipping on a combination of smooth orange juice and a little sea salt to help keep the adrenaline levels down, which can sometimes rise when we take a hot bath.

Whatever you do, do not ingest the Epsom salts, as they are a very effective way of loosening your stools very quickly. So much so they are used by the NHS to induce diarrhea and clear out the bowls before operations and examinations.

Happy Bathing

There are many benefits to sustaining optimal magnesium levels and low magnesium is probably one of the most common nutrient insufficiencies. Even if your magnesium levels are good and you take a bath in the salts, the body will simply increase the amount of magnesium excreted in the urine, as demonstrated by Dr Waring in her work, and so there is no risk of overloading the body with magnesium when using Epsom salt baths.