Enjoy These Health Benefits of an Epsom Salt Bath

Why An Epsom Salt Bath after Massage?

Epsom salts or hydrated magnesium sulfate, have been used for hundreds of years as an inexpensive, advanced detoxification strategy with amazing health benefits. Magnesium and sulfate are readily absorbed through the skin into the body’s blood stream. Reverse osmosis set up by Epsom salts in bathwater, allows magnesium and sulfates to enter the body while drawing out salt and toxins.

Preparing An Epsom Salt Bath

Set aside a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes – 20 minutes to remove toxins, 20 minutes to absorb minerals from the water, and unless you have arthritic joints, at least an hour afterwards to rest.

Fill the bath with warm water and add Epsom salts in the following amounts (for a standard sized bath):

• Children under 60 lbs: 1/2 cup
• Individuals between 60-100 lbs: 1 cup
• 100-150 lbs: 1 1/2 cup
• 150-200 lbs: 2 cups
• For every 50lbs larger – use an additional 1/2 cup

Try adding 1/2 cup of olive oil – the polyphenols soak into the skin giving further antioxidant benefits. Adding 1 tbsp to 1/2 a cup ginger or cayenne increases your heat levels, helping you sweat out toxins. Both are packed with antioxidants to facilitate the detoxification process.

Remember too that using soap with an Epsom salt bath interferes with the action of the minerals and the detoxification process.

Benefits Of An Epsom Salt Bath

The Epsom salt bath is one of the most common post massage recommendations given by many professional massage therapists. There are a plethora of benefits to be gained from time spent indulging in an Epsom salt bath. These include:

• easing muscle pain by helping the body to eliminate harmful substances such as toxins and heavy metals from the cells.
• regulating electrolytes and improving nerve function. Magnesium is necessary to maintain proper blood levels of calcium (the main conductor for electrical current in the body)
• replacing magnesium lost due to excess adrenaline and stress. Magnesium helps the body to bind sufficient amounts of serotonin, the mood-elevating chemical in the brain.
• preventing migraine headaches.
• reducing inflammation to relieve chronic pain and muscle cramps.
• Improving the symptoms of athlete’s foot, gout, toenail fungus, chronic sprains, and bruises;

Of course, the Epsom salts bath is not only used after massage. You can enjoy the bath after heavy work outs or stressful events, or it can be simply a part of your regular relaxing routine.

Calcium and iron are not the only minerals that can work wonders for your body. The magnesium and sulfate in Epsom salts can also do your mind and body a world of good. Start racking up some “me time” by using an Epsom salt bath as special relaxation time devoted to your body.