HOW YOU SHOULD REALLY TAKE AN EPSOM SALT BATH

Learning how you should really take an epsom salt bath is the first step to utilizing epsom salts to support your health and wellness.

Epsom salt baths are an easy at home treatment that can be utilized for muscle pain and tension, as well as headaches, anxiety and stress relief. Though it is an easy at home treatment, many people don’t know how to use them therapeutically.

Learn about why an epsom bath is a helpful therapeutic tool for the body, and learn how you should really take an epsom salt bath.

Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

When muscles are worked, and overworked, they produce a waste product called lactic acid. When lactic acid is not properly transported out by the body, it can build up in the muscle tissue. If lactic acid remains built up in the tissue, it can lead to achy and painful muscles. When the muscle is further under stress or remains tight, it will stop the drainage of lactic acid. This further increases lactic acid in the tissue, which can increase muscle soreness and muscle pain.

Epsom salts have a high magnesium content, which can help release lactic acid from muscle tissue. This makes epsom salts an extremely effective treatment for muscle strains, achiness, and general muscle tightness. It is also a great supportive treatment after a massage because it will help move out excess lactic acid that was released by the muscle tissue after a massage.

How to Take a Bath

Before filling your bath, make sure that you have plenty of epsom salts on hand. You can find bulk epsom salts online, at your local pharmacy, at your local grocery store, or even at your local garden store (yes, you can use epsom salts in your garden too!). The options for purchasing epsom salts include plain or scented. I recommend unscented, as the fragrance or essential oils can disrupt the chemistry of the water. If you prefer to have a scent, light a candle or run your essential oil diffuser.

Next, fill the bath to as hot as you can comfortably tolerate it. For an average sized bath tub, add in 3-4 cups of epsom salts. For larger baths, add in 6 cups of epsom salts. To achieve maximum benefits, you must soak in the bath for a minimum of 20 minutes. After, you can wash or rinse as normal.

While sitting in the bath, it is best to have a glass of cold water to sip during the bath. This helps keep to hydrated and reduce fluid loss that can be occur during perspiration. If you get too hot, an optional cold towel can be placed around your neck or on your forehead. As with any hot bath, make sure you get out of the tub slowly and carefully.

Words of Caution

Epsom salts contain magnesium, which can lower blood pressure. People who already have low blood pressure are more prone to dizziness or lightheadedness with prolonged bath time or when first standing after an epsom salt bath.

If you are over 50 or have diagnosed heart trouble, you should moderate the water temperature and avoid submerging your body above heart level. Consider a cold towel around your neck, and keep a bucket of cold water available beside the tub for wringing.

If you have any concerns about whether a hot tub will affect you adversely, please consult with your doctor before using the epsom salts bath.