10 Benefits of Epsom Salt
Magnesium sulfate is a chemical compound that consists of magnesium, oxygen, and sulfur. It is more commonly known as Epsom salt, named after Epsom, the town in England where it was first discovered. It has been used for hundreds of years since it was discovered to treat a range of ailments.
One of the main reasons for Epsom salt’s medicinal properties is its high magnesium content. It can be consumed, and often is, although its unpleasant taste makes it unsuitable for use in food. It is often used as bath salts, allowing people to soak in warm water with Epsom salt dissolved in it.
Epsom salt is thought to offer a range of health benefits. Below are 10 benefits of using Epsom salt.
Benefit #1: Detoxifies
The air that we breathe often contains many toxins, while we can even find toxins in our food. For the most part, this is not too much of a problem because the liver, kidneys, and other organs are effective at filtering this out from the system. Regardless, it is still a good idea to do what we can to help.
Have a bath in Epsom salt and it can help to pull toxins out from beneath the surface of the skin. This can help to reach those parts that even our own immune system cannot reach. It can help clean the body and also leave your skin looking brand new again.
Benefit #2: Relieves Inflammation
When joints and tissues become inflamed, it can lead to considerable discomfort. Inflammations can cause problems throughout the body, although problems like arthritis are among the best known. It can be very difficult to put up with, and often very difficult to treat, with a cure for most conditions remaining elusive.
If we are able to at least relieve the inflammation, though, then we can ease some of the discomfort. The magnesium content of Epsom salt is thought to be able to reduce C-reactive protein (CRP), which can cause inflammation. Try it out to bring considerable and very welcome relief.
Benefit #3: Stress Relief
Stress is something that should never be taken lightly. We all go through it sometimes and it can be easy to just try and keep a stiff upper lip and get through it. This can be dangerous for your health, though, particularly when it is prolonged. You should do what you can to relieve yourself of stress, and Epsom salt can help to this end.
One result of prolonged stress is that it can deplete the levels of magnesium in our bodies. This can, in turn, increase adrenaline levels and this can contribute further to stress. Epsom salt helps to replace this magnesium, while bathing in Epsom salt can also help increase serotonin levels, which will help you to relax.
Benefit #4: Healthy Skin
People can be very quick to judge, so a healthy appearance can be a big help to us sometimes in life. Much of how healthy we look will be determined by the condition of our skin, but even some healthy people can struggle to maintain good-looking skin.
It is thought by many people that Epson salt will go a long way toward giving you healthy skin, and a healthy appearance. Indeed, it can make your skin softer and can also help with exfoliating. You can use it by mixing Epsom salt with coconut oil or olive oil and then rubbing it into the body.
Benefit #5: Sunburn
Depending on where you are in the world, a hot sunny day is something to be taken advantage of. Many of us will not pass up an opportunity to get a tan but this can backfire if we are not careful. The rays from the sun can burn our skin, so we should take precautions to prevent this from happening.
If you have picked up a bad sunburn then you could try bathing in a bath of Epsom salt. This can help to alleviate inflammation, and this can help to alleviate itching and pain. What’s more is that it can also help to reduce some of the redness of the burn.
Benefit #6: Good Bone Health
Osteoporosis is a condition that mostly affects older people, although it can affect people of all ages. It is caused when the density of calcium in the bones is reduced, leading to weakened bones that are easier to break. It develops gradually and silently, and patients often don’t even know they have it until it results in broken bones.
Calcium and vitamin K2 are well known to be important for maintaining good bone health. We also need magnesium, though, which works with calcium to keep our bones healthy. Use Epsom salt, and you could be saving yourself considerable pain at some point in the future.
Benefit #7: Reduces Foot Odor
Smelly feet can be quite embarrassing. Unfortunately, it can also be difficult to avoid. People that are active, in particular, can find they have problems with foot odors and it can be difficult to get rid of. If this is the case for you, then Epsom salt may be just what you need.
There’s nothing quite like a foot bath to soothe aching feet and adding some Epsom salt can make the experience so much better. Not only can it help to remove those lingering bad odors, but it can also help to soften rough skin. It can come as a welcome relief to people that spend much of their day on their feet.
Benefit #8: Removes Splinters
We’ve all been there. You run your hand along a piece of wood and you feel a small, sharp pain digging into your fingers. Have a look and you are likely to find that a tiny shard of wood has splintered off and embedded itself well into the skin. Even if it is not particularly painful, you should still have it removed because it poses a risk of infection.
Splinters can be painful sometimes, while getting them out can also make it worse. They can be well dug in and prodding at it with a pin or needle can make things worse. Immerse it in some warm water with Epsom salt, though, and it should draw the splinter to the surface. This will make it much easier to remove.
Benefit #9: Healthy Nerve Function
Throughout our bodies is a system of nerves that tell us all that we need to know about our surroundings. These nerves detect what is around us and then send the information back to the brain, which then deals with that information accordingly. It is important that our nerves remain functioning as best they can. Indeed, our very lives can depend on it.
The magnesium in Epsom salt is known to be able to help regulate the electrical signals our nervous system relies on. It can also help the body to use calcium effectively, which helps to conduct these electrical signals.
Benefit #10: Overall Health Benefits
Many of us in this day and age are fortunate enough to be able to get the balanced diet that we need. In fact, most of us have more than we actually need. While vitamin C, for example, is indeed important for a healthy immune system, vitamin C supplements have little to no effect. This is because we likely already have all the vitamin C that we need.
Magnesium, however, is a mineral that even a lot of people in modern countries don’t get enough of. This means that a supplement of magnesium can go some way to improving our overall health. Epsom salt is a great source of calcium, so consider including it in your diet as a supplement.
