This article is shared with permission from our friends at dietoflife.com.
Epsom salt consists of magnesium and sulfate, a composition which can help improve health in numerous significant ways. A lack of magnesium, which helps regulate the activity of more than 300 enzymes in the body, can contribute to high blood pressure, hyperactivity, heart problems and other health issues, doctors warn.
Sulfate on the other hand is essential for many biological processes, helping to flush toxins and helping to form proteins in joints, brain tissue, etc.
The Many Powers of Epsom Salt
To many readers, Epsom salt may be “a Spanish village”, but the truth is these salts have been used by many different cultures for hundreds of years. Owing to their different beneficial properties they can be effectively used in gardening, domestic chores, and detoxifying the body. Consumers should know that these salts are a real bargain and can be bought at bulk discounts in garden centers nearly everywhere!
I can bet that most of you have never tried Epsom salt baths out. Now, I sincerely recommend you give them an immediate try! Why? There are many good answers to this question. Read about them below.
Epsom Salt for Your Body
1. It regulates blood sugar
Research indicates that raising magnesium levels can promote a healthy heart by improving circulation and lowering blood pressure. Very important thing for diabetic people is that this salt improves the body’s capacity to use insulin! Magnesium is necessary to sustain calcium levels in the blood, which improves nerve function.
It is known that sulphates are not easily absorbed through the food we eat, but are absorbed through the skin we are in. They stimulate the pancreas to make digestive enzymes and assist in detoxifying the body.
2. It offers an advanced detoxification
Epsom salt can assist in eliminating toxins and heavy metals from the body. The magnesium in Epsom salt is required for detoxifying cells. It also helps detox the body of environmental contaminants that can potentially be the reason for poor health.
Detox bath procedure: To enjoy a relaxing detox bath, stir in 1 to 2 cups of Epson salt in a bathtub filled with warm water and soak in it for 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a week. Here’s how to make your own scented baths with essential oils:
3. It fades bruises
To make bruises less visible, make a compress by soaking a washcloth in cold water mixed with Epsom salt. Use two tablespoons per cup and then apply to the skin. Bruises won’t vanish like magic, but they won’t be as large, or as painful. Their appearance will simply fade!
Bruise treatment: Use a solution of two tablespoons of Epsom salt per cup of water for optimal effects.
4. It treats sunburns
Epsom salt is very soothing for skin reddening caused by overexposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Its anti-inflammatory properties alleviate mild sunburn irritation like itchiness and pain. It can even help maintain an unvarying skin tone.
Sunburn treatment:
Option 1: To treat sunburned hands and legs, mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in 1 cup of water and store it in a spray bottle. Spray it on the affected area. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then take a bath. Do this several times a week to notice improvement.
Option 2: Fill a bathtub with lukewarm water and mix in 1 cup of Epsom salt, stirring thoroughly so the salt crystals dissolve properly. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil and soak in the water for 20 minutes.
5. It is a body scrub
After you take your shower, rub your skin with Epsom salts using circular movements. It removes dead skin cells and leaves skin soft and smooth like a baby’s bottom.
6. It soothes those itchy-and-scratchy bug bites
Bug bite treatment: Dissolve ¼ cup of Epsom salts in a cup of warm water. Cool the mixture in the refrigerator. Apply with a cotton ball to bug bites to soothe the pain and itching.
7. It removes splinters
According to the Epsom Salt Council, Epsom salt increases osmotic pressure on the skin, which smoothly draws foreign bodies toward the surface. Other, violent methods of removing splinters may cause infection.
Splinter treatment: Dissolve one cup of Epsom salt in a tub of water and soak the affected area.
8. It is a relief from chronic muscular pain
An Epsom salt bath can promote detoxification through the skin and it is traditionally used as a soaking agent to bring relief from muscular pain, joint pain, stiffness and sprains.
Pain treatment: Soak in a warm bath prepared with 2 cups of Epsom salts.
9. It improves digestion
Epsom salt assists in the elimination of harmful toxins and waste products from the body and the digestive system. It also works as a laxative to soften stools, making them easier to pass, and can be used to successfully treat constipation. Also, soaking in an Epsom salt bath helps reduce water retention and tummy bloating.
Constipation treatment: Dissolve 1 or 2 teaspoons of food grade Epsom salt in 1 cup of warm water and drink it on an empty stomach once a day.
Caution: When taken internally, Epsom salt can cause some side effects, including gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. So, consult your doctor before taking Epsom salt. Do not take it longer than 1 week. The sulfur can be nasty, especially if you have a CBS genetic mutation.
10. It remedies colds and flu
Take a hot bath with Epsom salts when you feel you’re coming down with a cold as it helps the body to fight infection more easily and recover faster.
11. It helps you sleep better
Epsom salts relax the body and help you fight wakefulness (insomnia). Take hot baths with Epsom salts in the evening, an hour before sleep. It helps to increase the level of magnesium in the body. Lack of magnesium brings fatigue, stress, heart disease and joint pain.
Insomnia treatment: Fill the tub with warm water and mix it with a cup of Epsom salts and a cup of baking soda. Have a break in your tub and “seize” the benefits!
12. It removes bad foot odor
Keep your feet in warm water with Epsom salts to get rid of odor, pain or heavy legs feeling. Do it for 15-20 minutes as it improves blood circulation, reduces inflammation and softens skin.
Epsom Salt for Your Home and Garden
13. It quickly removes burnt food on pots and pans
Tired of scouring that overcooked oatmeal? Scrub out your pots and pans with a few tablespoons of Epsom salts, a little soap, and hot water to remove burnt food easily.
14. It is a fertilizer for your plants, fruits and veggies
Some plants need tons of peat, roses for instance. Work some Epsom salt into the soil around them to keep them vibrant, especially during blooming season, when you want them to produce beautiful, long-lasting flowers. Palm trees, tomatoes, and peppers are big fans of Epsom salt too!
15. It keeps indoor plants healthy
Plant solution: Add 1-2 tablespoons of Epsom salts per gallon (3.8 liters in the US and 4.5 liters in the UK) of water to nourish your house plants. Or sprinkle a few tablespoons of Epsom salts at the base of your plants. It will maximize yield!
Sources:
http://www.akademiai.com/doi/abs/10.1556/CRC.34.2006.1.177
Image Sources:
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