Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is a naturally occurring compound of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. It has been used therapeutically since the 17th century. Research has shown that bathing in Epsom salts increases magnesium levels in the body. If you enjoy unwinding in a warm bath, adding Epsom salt to the water could have several substantial health benefits.
Here are 9 reasons to add Epsom salt to your bath:
- It will boost your magnesium.
Magnesium plays numerous roles in the human body. It is required for muscle and nerve function, protein synthesis, bone development, energy production and blood sugar control. Dietary surveys consistently show that most people in the US get less than the recommended amounts of magnesium. Low intakes can increase the risk of several conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Absorbing magnesium while bathing is a pleasant way to ensure that you have an adequate supply of this vital mineral.
- It could lower your blood pressure.
Magnesium plays an important role in regulating blood pressure by opening channels in cell membranes that relax the smooth muscle in blood vessels. Researchers from the University of Hertfordshire analyzed data from twenty-two trials involving 1,173 people to assess the effect of magnesium on blood pressure. The combined data indicated that magnesium supplementation lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and that the size of the effect increased with higher doses. Anyone concerned about their blood pressure could benefit from the magnesium in an Epsom salt bath.
- It can help you feel less stressed.
Magnesium is an integral part of the stress response system. When you are mentally or physically stressed, magnesium is released from cells into blood plasma. The sudden increase in magnesium has an energizing and calming effect. Following this process, the mineral is excreted in the urine. Over time, stress can deplete the body’s stores of magnesium. When your magnesium levels are low, you are more sensitive to stress and produce higher levels of adrenalin, the ‘fight or flight’ hormone. An Epsom salt bath replenishes magnesium in the body, helping you to stay calm in stressful situations.
- It could improve your mood.
Magnesium is essential to the brain’s regulation of the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter serotonin. It plays a vital role in the release and uptake of serotonin by brain cells. A serotonin imbalance can negatively affect mood, libido, sleep, memory, and appetite. In some cases, depression can be caused by a magnesium deficiency. If you’re feeling low, relaxing in a warm Epsom salt bath could help raise your spirits. It can also help prevent depression by ensuring that your body has sufficient magnesium.
- It could relieve migraine pain.
Magnesium deficiency is more common in migraine sufferers than non-sufferers. A study published in the journal ‘Headache’, tested the use of magnesium sulfate to treat acute migraine attacks. Half of the migraine patients received intravenous magnesium sulfate and the other half received a saline placebo. The pain disappeared in 13 out of the 15 patients in the treatment group and diminished in the remaining two. Accompanying symptoms disappeared in all 15 patients. Only one patient out of 15 in the placebo group had a decrease in pain and only three were free from accompanying symptoms. Since magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, an Epsom salt bath may be as effective as an injection.
- It might help improve PMS symptoms.
Magnesium deficiency has been linked to some symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and several studies have reported lower magnesium levels in women with PMS. In one study, women who suffered from PMS were given magnesium supplements over three menstrual cycles. The women kept diaries recording the severity of their symptoms, and also completed a ‘Menstrual Distress Questionnaire’. The magnesium treatment led to an average 34% reduction in PMS symptoms. Frequent Epsom salt baths might raise magnesium levels enough to produce a similar effect.
- It could reduce your risk for stroke.
A meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed seven studies examining magnesium intake and stroke. Overall, there were 6,477 cases of stroke among 241,378 participants. Risk estimates were adjusted for age, smoking, BMI and other factors. The researchers concluded that an intake increment of 100mg of magnesium was associated with an 8% reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke. The magnesium in Epsom salt could help to protect your brain.
- It could help to prevent inflammatory diseases.
Most Americans eat a diet high in inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids. Diseases associated with chronic inflammation include arthritis, asthma, dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s. A study involving 3,713 postmenopausal women has shown that magnesium helps to prevent inflammation. The researchers assessed the women’s diets through a food questionnaire and tested their blood for particular substances. They found that the more magnesium the women ate, the lower their levels of inflammatory indicators. Taking regular Epsom salt baths could provide a source of magnesium to lower your risk for several health conditions.
- It can help detoxify your body.
We are all exposed to over 21,000 toxins on a regular basis including medications, herbicides, pesticides and PCB’s. Over 80% of our food have genetically modified ingredients and more than 80,000 metric tons of carcinogens are released into the air in North America alone.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average US citizen has residues from over 400 toxic compounds in their body. Epsom salt contains sulfates that help flush toxins and heavy metals from the body. What is even more staggering, is that there are 82,000 chemicals in use today in the United States but only one-quarter of them have ever been tested for toxicity. The skin is a highly porous membrane, and when Epsom salt is added to a warm bath, toxins are pulled out by a process known as reverse osmosis. This also strengthens the immune system as it no longer has the burden of all the toxins.