Epsom Salt: Potential Benefits and How to Use It

Integrative medicine is a department of healthcare that focuses on treating each the thoughts and physique and exploring how they’re carefully related. Some of the therapies and practices utilized by integrative drugs’s holistic strategy embody acupuncture, hypnotherapy and reiki.

Another software that integrative medical specialists usually advocate for its bodily and psychological well being advantages is Epsom salt. While no scientific trials have confirmed the advantages of Epsom salt, many healthcare suppliers market it for its ease of use, affordable value and minimally invasive supply. To study extra, we flip to integrative drugs specialist Naoki Umeda, MD.

What is Epsom salt?

Epsom salt is one in all many naturally occurring mineral salts, a compound of magnesium and sulfate in rock-like formations. The identify “Epsom salt” is a nod to the city of Epsom, situated a stone’s throw away from London in England, the place the salt was supposedly found about 400 years in the past.

While it resembles desk salt, it has a really bitter style and isn’t actually meant to be consumed. Most customers dissolve it in a heat tub for a soak with the hope of relieving stress or sore muscle tissues.

How can you utilize Epsom salt?

The concept is that if you pour Epsom salt into heat water, it dissolves the magnesium and sulfate and permits it to be absorbed into your physique by means of your pores and skin. Centuries of person testimonials declare fantastic advantages from utilizing Epsom salt this fashion.

Scientific analysis, nonetheless, isn’t fairly as vocal in its help. There aren’t any definitive research displaying that magnesium may be absorbed by means of your pores and skin in ample quantities to deal with potential deficiencies of the mineral. And what analysis has been achieved offers skepticism.

Still, integrative medical consultants generally advocate Epsom salt to folks with muscle ache and psychological stress. If you need to attempt it for your self, the method is fairly easy and lightweight in danger.

• Pour about 300 grams (1.25 cups) of Epsom salt right into a clear bathtub because it fills with sizzling water. (Avoid utilizing Epsom salt in a bathtub with jets, a sizzling tub or a whirlpool tub until the producer says it’s OK.)
• Once the bathtub is drawn, check the water for its warmth degree and alter as wanted. You don’t need to scald your self.
• Slowly ease your self into the bathtub and calm down. A 15-minute soak must be sufficient.

When buying Epsom salt, look to purchase a product that’s 100% magnesium sulfate.

The advantages of an Epsom salt tub

Despite the dearth of accessible scientific knowledge, tales in regards to the therapeutic energy of Epsom salt have been circulating for hundreds of years, says Dr. Umeda. Users sometimes dissolve Epsom salt in tub water to launch magnesium and sulfate ions and reap the advantages.

Stress reduction

While some consultants counsel that stress reduction comes from the nice and cozy tub itself, others imagine Epsom salt helps stabilize temper and relieve stress, anxiousness and despair. In truth, some declare that taking magnesium increases serotonin (happiness or leisure hormone) manufacturing in your mind.

Muscle ache

Epsom salt is used to calm down muscle tissues and relieve ache within the shoulders, neck, again and cranium. For instance, by enjoyable the muscle tissues surrounding your cranium, the magnesium in Epsom salt might assist release a headache or migraine. This profit can even help sore muscle tissues within the restoration interval after a exercise.

Inflammation

Some consultants additionally suppose that magnesium is nice for decreasing irritation in inner organs. This might assist reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve digestion/bowel movement.

Side results of an Epsom salt tub

Generally, there aren’t any — however there are some situations the place warning is suggested, says Dr. Umeda. Epsom salt baths aren’t really useful for folks with:

• Severe pores and skin irritation.
• Skin infections.
• Open wounds.
• Severe burns.

Additionally, consuming Epsom salt — as some on-line “detox” plans tout — may cause severe uncomfortable side effects comparable to extreme diarrhea, cautions Dr. Umeda. There aren’t any research proving that taking Epsom salt orally is secure or helpful. Taking it orally can result in sudden and dramatic modifications in bowel conduct; this, in flip, may be very harmful and trigger dehydration and discomfort.

If you’re inquisitive about Epsom salt baths or have any issues, examine along with your healthcare supplier earlier than utilizing Epsom salts.