Epsom salt is popularly used to solve a myriad of different ailments, including everything from soothing tired and achy muscles to easing stress and eliminating toxins from the body. It’s cost-effective and safe, making it a great product to keep at home for the whole family. Plus, the benefits don’t end with healthcare – there are also various ways of using them around the home.
What exactly is Epsom salt?
Epsom salt was named after a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England. Epsom salt is not actually salt at all, in fact, it comprises a naturally occurring pure mineral compound made up of magnesium, sulphur and oxygen.
It’s been around forever, too: There “have been recorded uses of Epsom salt to solve health problems since the 1500s,” says Jim Hill, president of the Epsom Salt Council.
It was most likely named Epsom “salt” because of its chemical structure and appearance, as it looks very similar to traditional table salt. Most of its benefits are due to the presence of magnesium, a mineral that many people do not get enough of.
When Epsom salts are dissolved in water, they release magnesium and sulphate ions. Studies indicate that magnesium and sulphate ions can be absorbed through the skin, which is why Epsom salt baths are so popular.
READ MORE: 10 Signs You May Have a Magnesium Deficiency
Why we need magnesium
What’s so special about magnesium? Well, it takes on several important roles in the body. It helps regulate enzymes, reduces inflammation, supports muscle and nerve function, helps the body flush out toxins and much more.
You may have written it off as something collecting dust in your grandparents’ bathroom closet, but Epsom salt has a number of practical – and effective – uses. Stock up on it to reap the benefits:
1. It exfoliates skin
“People use it as an exfoliator, a blackhead reduction [method], and a standard facial cleanser,” says Andrew C. Krakowski, a dermatologist. That’s because unlike a lot of exfoliators on the market, Epsom salt isn’t made up of plastic. “It provides gentle abrasion and then dissolves into your tub or shower,” says Hill.
2. It pumps up puny strands
Hills says Epsom salt can also be used as a hair volumiser since it’s great at removing gunk. “It will definitely give hair more body,” he says.
How to use it: mix equal parts Epsom salt and conditioner, massage into your hair, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing out. You can also use Epsom salt to create a paste that will eliminate dead skin on your scalp if you’re plagued by itching.
3. It temporarily reduces bloat
Yep, soaking in an Epsom salt bath can be a quick fix for temporarily reducing water weight, says Sabrina Sarabella, certified personal trainer. The reason: The sulphate ions pull toxins and water out of your system. (Word is Amanda Seyfried has used this trick to squeeze into a red carpet dress.)
The best bath recipe: Add ½ cup of Epsom salt to your bath for every 25kgs of body weight, says chiropractor David Jockers.
Get the benefits of Epsom salts with these products
This food-grade bag is natural and multi-purpose.
This lavender-scented bath bomb helps relax the body and mind.
This vitamin-enriched Epsom salt also has shea to moisturise.
4. Epsom salt soothes sore muscles
“If you have a sprained ankle or are just in pain, it can help drain out toxins or [reduce] inflammation,” says Jockers. He even points out that it can decrease pain during the early stages of labour. So fill up your tub!
5. It relaxes the mind
Jockers recommends that his clients regularly turn electronics off, throw on some music, lower the lights, and soak in the tub in an Epsom salt bath. “It’s a really awesome practice to be doing on a regular basis,” he says. “It’s really good for relaxation.” One study found that the magnesium in Epsom salt helps to lower cortisol, the stress hormone.
READ MORE: Here’s How To Actually Practise Mindfulness And Unlock Inner Peace
6. Improves Your Bone Health
Because Epsom salt has magnesium, taking a bath in the product allows users to absorb the element, which can help with bone health, says Sarabella. “Many people think that consuming calcium through dairy products is [the most important thing for bone health],” she says. “But that’s untrue. You need magnesium.”
7. It could boost happiness
Magnesium helps produce serotonin, the happy hormone that’s key for good mood. It also affects the binding of serotonin receptors, enhancing its transmission. Some studies suggest that Epsom salt, because of its high magnesium content, can benefit your mood. A perfect pre-bedtime routine.
8. It treats constipation
Magnesium is very useful in alleviating constipation because it draws water into the colon, stretching the intestines and helps move things along.
How to use it: mix two to six teaspoons of Epsom salt with 250ml (one cup) of water and drink it. Make sure to use edible Epsom salt and not the kind with added essential oils for baths. Also, make sure to not use it for more than a week. Avoid if you have kidney conditions, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting.
9. It eliminates foot odour
Soaking feet in a mixture of warm water and Epsom salts for ten minutes has been shown to neutralize odour, soften rough skin and even relieve the symptoms of athlete’s foot.
10. It helps remove splinters
Got a splinter or something stuck under your skin? Soak the area in a bowl of Epsom salt water to draw it out.
11. It cleans tiles and other surfaces
Get your bathroom and kitchen sparkly clean by mixing equal parts Epsom salt and dishwashing detergent and use as a scrub on tiles and other surfaces with stubborn stains.
READ MORE: These Unusual PMS Symptom Treatments Actually Work – Minus Painkillers
12. It can fertilise plants
Plants rely on magnesium and sulphur in the soil to stay in good health and flourish. Sprinkle Epsom salts over the plant soil weekly to nourish flowers, veggies and houseplants.
When to *not* use Epsom salt
Though there is information floating around out there about the possibility of using Epsom salt for an internal cleanse, Krakowski warns against it, stating that many outrageous claims about the product should be “taken with a grain of salt” – pun intended. “Do not confuse this product with something that you would want to use internally [by ingesting it],” he says. “You will get into trouble doing that.” Noted.